Ive been going around in circles the last couple of years thinking about upgrading from my current truck.
1) it's paid off
2) I work downtown and take the bus so really only drive 50miles total Mon-Fri
3) have property a couple hours west, truck with 4wd is handy
4) tow a 5000lb inboard boat

Now the real tough part - what to buy?

Looking around for "about" the same money you could get the following.

F-150 King Ranch
F-250 Lariat
GMC 2500 Denali
GMC 1500 Denali/AT4

I know the 250 and 2500 are more versus the half tons but $5-6k more is almost splitting hairs.

I currently drive a 2009 F-150 FX4 so any of the above options are a significant step up in modern tech - almost indifferent to the trim package I think the ones listed are all relatively close with the Lariat being a step down.

Here you go, quit being such a poo$$ay and just do it

https://www.liftedtrucks.com/wholesale-used/Ford/2026-Ford-F-450SD-dfa2e9e5ac183a61373cfa7085f6ad80.htm

If you can fit in your downtown parking with a 3/4 ton you can split the difference and go Ram diesel higher trim.

I did this same exercise having only had Chevy and ford the last 20 years. Incredibly happy with the 25+ Ram 2500. The Ram has the best HD transmission and it's not close.

Why gas over diesel?

You won't drive a lot. Don't want to spend as much money. Maintenance is way less.

Don't pull heavy.

I have the 7.3L Godzilla in mine and this engine is purposefully built very simple. Pushrod. NA. V8. No def, EGR, etc.

Oil changes are simple.

I bought a lariat tremor with the lariat ultimate package, 71k. That in a diesel will run you probably 85 or maybe 90k.

A nice loaded f150 will run you at least 70k (king ranch).

I can't help with your decision but I can tell you that the 7.3 Godzilla will haul any piece of equipment you think you'll ever need to haul. It's a boss. My daughter uses my 7.3 Godzilla to haul horses all over the place and it just works and doesn't break a sweat. It's paired really well with the 10 speed. The cost of the diesel from initial cost, to operating and maintaining is very high.

Side by side the advantages of the 7.3 Godzilla over the 6.7HO.

Oil change doesn't cost $170+
No DEF costs
Fuel doesn't cost $250 to fill up. Way cheaper even at 12mpg.

A short bed F250 is going to park similarly to an F150 in my experience unless the F150 has a 5.5' bed which does make a difference.

Ride quality…my F250 short bed gas is a much rougher/stiffer ride than my F350 long bed diesel but there are accessories that may account for that difference. Both are rougher than the F150.

The 7.3 Gas is going to tow the dog **** out of a 5,000 lbs trailer and not think twice. The F150 will as well but have the advantage of more friendly usage in city parking. So, if you aren't hauling weekly, I don't know that you'll realize the F250 benefits or a diesel.

You could just do like everyone else and say "F150 gas is what I need but F250 is cool and I can afford it so **** it."

Ditto to this. I mentioned he's not hauling heavy but the 7.3 can still do it.

YouTube has videos of dudes pulling 20k+ up mountain passes and the Godzilla just keeps chugging.

We do about a 1750mile RV trip every summer. Last year was the first one with the Godzilla. Had the 3.5EB with max tow before.

35' 9k lbs bumper pull. It was definitely a little white knuckle in the f150 with panhandle winds and coming down passes.

In the 7.3? Pfft. I was going 65 up passes and barely braking coming down. No sweat whatsoever.

Ragoo said:

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I currently drive a 2009 F-150 FX4 so any of the above options are a significant step up in modern tech - almost indifferent to the trim package I think the ones listed are all relatively close with the Lariat being a step down.

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Get yourself a F150 powerboost... it's the hybrid and solid as a rock, helluva torque, 20 mpg. Go test drive one, it's a world of difference from what you have.

King Ranch is basically Lariat upper package with leather seats and the optional 2-tone paint. Personally, I hate the king ranch burnt orange interior and look.

You realllllllllllllllllllly don't need a 250. Way overkill. Wayyyy overkill. Go look at how big/roomy the 2026 f150 is.

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Looking around for "about" the same money you could get the following.

F-150 King Ranch
F-250 Lariat
GMC 2500 Denali
GMC 1500 Denali/AT4

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I'd go with the AT4 package and 3.0 Duramax. You'll get upwards of 30mpg travelling back and forth to your property and 14-16 towing your boat. The babymax drives great and kind of scratches the diesel itch without going full HD with all of the added costs. We purchased a 4WD Suburban with the 3.0 last summer and have loved it.

I also have a 2500 ZR2 Duramax and have really enjoyed it, as well. I've got a 10k lb RV we tow regularly so we stepped up to the HD. If you're test driving Powerstrokes and L5P Duramaxes then you may get hooked on one of them and just decide to drive it home. These modern HD trucks from all of the MFGs are pretty incredible and fun to drive.

Toyota.

You're welcome.

TommyGun said:

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Quote:

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Looking around for "about" the same money you could get the following.

F-150 King Ranch
F-250 Lariat
GMC 2500 Denali
GMC 1500 Denali/AT4

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I'd go with the AT4 package and 3.0 Duramax. You'll get upwards of 30mpg travelling back and forth to your property and 14-16 towing your boat. The babymax drives great and kind of scratches the diesel itch without going full HD with all of the added costs. We purchased a 4WD Suburban with the 3.0 last summer and have loved it.

I also have a 2500 ZR2 Duramax and have really enjoyed it, as well. I've got a 10k lb RV we tow regularly so we stepped up to the HD. If you're test driving Powerstrokes and L5P Duramaxes then you may get hooked on one of them and just decide to drive it home. These modern HD trucks from all of the MFGs are pretty incredible and fun to drive.

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Yes the old baby Duramax has shown to be reliable. The new ones are grenading by the thousands. It's been thought to be a supplier issue on some bearings (I think?) but not fully known yet.

Driving a new diesel off the lot and hearing that jet turbine is sexy… but wanting this to roll over 100k with oil changes and tires only doesn't look promising.

If a simple half ton if all you need, I wouldn't go farther than the 3.5 ecoboost. Cam phaser issues are years in the past. It will pull everything you've got with ease and get decent mpg.

The saying used to be "you can't go wrong with XYZ". Unfortunately, these days, just about all of these drivetrains have something wrong with them.

Even the big gassers are showing oil pump issues from long idle times.

I feel like I have received a lot of feedback but still completely confused.

Some additional context
I'm 40
I have driven the following
1997 F-150 extended cab lariat with the 4.6L V8 pretty sweet ride to have in high school early 00s
2008 bare bones taco pre-runner.
2009 F-150 crew cab xlt fx4 6.5' box

24 years as a driver and every vehicle I have driven has been old or mid. I want something nice. Something fun. Something rewarding for the work I have done and the "sacrifice" I have made driving beaters.

I like the size look of the 250/2500. The 2500 GMC with a little lift just looks like a badass truck, to me. The 150/1500 is probably the most practical for sure. But I want to drive this truck another 10 years and I don't know what the future holds, but I also want the truck to last for 10 years without much or any headache.

Leaves me scratching my head still.

So not a white f150? lol

If you want something bad ass, get the green 2500 ZR2 with black wheels and a gasser. Enjoy.

Although, I love my murder'd f250 tremor with black stainless exhaust. The Borla exhaust upgrade is beefy.

Kind of went through this myself recently. 37 years old and had driven the wheels off a couple of half ton trucks. Had a solid and reliable V8 Tundra that I could have driven for 20 years but I was ready to splurge a bit after 20+ years of only driving the most practical budget minded pick-ups. I wanted something with leather and a big diesel to make towing a breeze and be fun to drive. Have always liked the GM HD lineup and found a 2 year old ZR2 with minimal miles so I jumped on it. Has a little factory lift like you mentioned and I liked everything about it.

Will I need to make a costly repair in the next 10 years of ownership? Maybe. Am I in a place that I can financially absorb that? Yes. Will I regret buying this truck after 3-5 years? Will probably know in 3-5 years

I've got two brothers who have only driven diesel rigs in the last 20 years. One has only been in Fords and the other has only been in Chevy/GMC. They both wouldn't drive anything else and have put at least 200-300k miles on each one they've owned and worked them hard hauling equipment trailers and routinely towing heavy. You're going to hear individual horror stories from each brand but there are also a ton of owners who have driven these HD diesels for years who have had very positive experiences.

Yep. Bill Fick in Huntsville. Got a great deal and I love the Godzilla. Tremor package.

Love the truck. Hate those stock tremor wheels. Took mine off pretty quickly.

Fortunately I sold them for like $200/piece

The 10L1000 is a trash transmission.

I wouldn't drive a GM HD truck with it ever again. Replacement is $10,000+ for a stock unit when (not if) the time comes.

I prefer the 6 speed in my '24 Ram that's half the cost to replace with a built unit.

One thing that's also great is the tremor 250 is mechanically a 350.

So it comes with more ass in the rear and the heavier duty transmission (one that's seeing less issues).

Not that well known that ford has different transmissions for its HD Fseries trucks.

Makes me feel better knowing mechanically the 250 is a 350, underrated with stickers.

If you drove a 250 tremor and non-tremor (I did when I was shopping), you can definitely feel the difference in suspension. Some chalk it up to the "off road" part… I don't think that's the part that matters. If you knew it was a 350, you'd definitely understand why it rides rougher.

Ragoo said:

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I feel like I have received a lot of feedback but still completely confused.

Some additional context
I'm 40
I have driven the following
1997 F-150 extended cab lariat with the 4.6L V8 pretty sweet ride to have in high school early 00s
2008 bare bones taco pre-runner.
2009 F-150 crew cab xlt fx4 6.5' box

24 years as a driver and every vehicle I have driven has been old or mid. I want something nice. Something fun. Something rewarding for the work I have done and the "sacrifice" I have made driving beaters.

I like the size look of the 250/2500. The 2500 GMC with a little lift just looks like a badass truck, to me. The 150/1500 is probably the most practical for sure. But I want to drive this truck another 10 years and I don't know what the future holds, but I also want the truck to last for 10 years without much or any headache.

Leaves me scratching my head still.

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I replied to your email. Give me a call when you're free

GMC 2500 AT4X AEV